HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-12-22, Page 1Semesters
may be
back
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen
Year-long, non-semestered pro
gramming could cease to exist in
Avon Maitland District School
Board secondary facilities next fall,
but only if teachers and principals
are able to convince administrative
staff that Grade 9 and 10 math
results won’t be negatively affected.
Early this decade, acting on the
argument that too much time passes
between courses in the same
discipline under what was then the
increasingly-popular semestered
systems, trustees decided the board’s
high schools should revert to year
long programming in all subject
areas.
That decision was partially
reversed in 2003, in response to
concerns about the decreased class
length under year-long timetabling,
and the desire of some almost-
graduated students to complete one
or two credits in three months then
spend the rest of the year earning
tuition fees for college or university.
At the time, however, principals
were directed to retain year-long
Grade 9 and 10 classes in two key
disciplines: math and English.
Now, according to a report
delivered to trustees Tuesday,'Dec.
13, administration will allow
principals to revert to semesters in
those areas as well.
“In ’2003, the EQAO (Education
Quality and Accountability Office,
an arms-length government agency
which administers standardized tests
to Ontario students) reported no
statistically significant differences in
achievement between schools with
year long programs and those with
semestered programs,” states a
report provided at a Dec. 13 regular
board meeting.
Avon Maitland administration has
not given up entirely on year-long
programming, however. Education
director Geoff Williams says the
board is reluctant to tamper with a
formula under which Avon Maitland
students have consistently recorded
well above provincial average
'success rates in the EQAO’s Grade 9
math tests.
If principals wish to convert Grade
9 and 10 math to semesters, they
“will be asked to submit a proposal,”
including “address(ing) how they
will continue to ensure very high
levels of success for their students,
and how they will monitor and
assess the impact of the changes on
student achievement.”
The conversion of Grade 9 and 10
English to semesters will be allowed
without any strings attached.
The catch is that, if Grade 9 and 10
math are not converted to semesters,
then other Grade 9 and 10 courses
will also have to remain in a year
long format. That’s because one
day’s session in a year-long course
takes only half the time of one day’s
session in a semestered format;
Continued on page 6
Now dear...
Mrs. Claus (Emily Nicholson) gives her famous husband (Jon Hakkers) a frown as he
considers a new career in the NHL as part of the Blyth PS Christmas concert at Memorial Hall
Dec. 14. (Heather Crawford photo)
Campvention planning heats up
By Heather Crawford
Citizen staff
Food was the hot topic at a
Campvention 2006 meeting held at
the Blyth arena Tuesday, Dec. 13.
North Huron clerk-administrator
John Stewart, economic
development officer Kerri Herrfort,
along with representatives from
varied organizations in the
community were in attendance.
The reason for the meeting was to
discuss activities and events that
could be held in the community
during the week of July 7-14 when
the expected 3,000 campers will be
arriving in town.
Almost every organization in
attendance offered to put on a
country dinner or breakfast to help
give the visitors variation during
their stay.
The representatives discussed a set
price for meals in town so as not to
encourage competition.
“We’re not competing against
each other,” Beverly Elliott of
Communities in Bloom, the
horticultural society and Blyth Idea
Group said.
Eventually the representatives
agreed on a small range in prices due
to some facilities offering more
expensive meals than others.
“It’s obviously not fair to charge
the same price for a steak dinner as it
is for a salad plate,” Stewart said.
Brock Vodden of BIG said the
group will be offering a walking tour
as well as an indoor slide
presentation, “so we don’t have to
worry about weather,” he said. The
slide presentation will feature a wide
selection of historical buildings and
information on the village. “There
will be a chance for questions and
answers,” Vodden said. “We have an
enormous catalogue of interesting
stories and past events [in Blyth],”
he added.
It was agreed that there would be a
small charge for the presentation to
gamer some income. “These people
aren’t expecting a free ride,” Stewart
said. “They expect to pay when they
come.”
General manager of the Blyth
Festival, Jane Gardner reported that
there will be several performances
available for the visitors to see
during their stay.
“We would also be willing to put
on country suppers,” she said. “Also,
we have offered to work with five to
12-year olds to create something
with them and do a small
presentation, also.”
Gardner said there will be an
exhibit in the art gallery, free of
charge during that week in July as
well.
“So they have a variety of things
to do while they’re here,” she said.
Eleanor Babcock of the Blyth
Business Association said store
owners will be willing to decorate
store windows and the business
association would work on
decorating the town.
The fire department is planning on
putting on a training session at the
emergency services training centre,
fire chief Paul Josling said.
“We could also have an education
program for the youth,” he added.
A garden tour will be provided one
morning or afternoon by the
horticultural society, Beverly Elliott
said.
Anne Elliott of BIG said she was
interested in organizing a tattoo of
bands in the soccer field across from
the arena for an hour to an hour and
a half on July 9. She has already
confirmed that the youth band in
Clinton can come.
Bands would be expected to do
fundraising and donations would be
accepted at the time of performance.
Ken Stewart of the Lions Club
said the club members are willing to
Wingham
woman
Nil rec
director
The Twp. of North Huron has
announced the appointment of Pat
Newson as the new director of
recreation and facilities for the
municipality.
Newson has extensive experience
iruthe recreation field. She has a
Masters Degree in physical
education administration from the
University of Ottawa and a
Bachelor of physical and health
education from Queen’s University.
Previous work experience
includes managing partner with Tri
Fit Inc. and being the on-site
manager of the Toyota Fitness and
Recreation Centre.
She has extensive experience in
coaching and instructing fitness and
recreational activities. She also has
a great deal of experience in
marketing special events, fitness
and recreation programs.
She and her husband and family
moved to Wingham three years ago
and she has been an active volunteer
in the community including being
president and coach of Wingham
Minor Soccer, a committee member
of the school, a coach and power
skating instructor for Wingham
minor hockey, the Wingham Public
School library fundraising event
committee chairperson and a
member of the Blyth ladies’ hockey
team.
Newson’s duties commence on
Jan. 3.
host a bingo night at the local public
school as well as a barbeque at Lions
Park one day.
Representatives from three
churches have volunteered to host
meals during the week.
Keith Richmond of the Trinity
Anglican Church offered to put on a
supper in the church hall which can
fit 65 people, is air-conditioned and
licensed.
A representative of the United
Church said the church members
will be willing to put on one or two
dinners and the hall can seat
approximately 115 people.
A representative from the
Christian Reformed Church said the
church is not equipped for supper
but the members would be willing to
provide breakfast or lunch.
“We are guaranteed 800 trailers,”
Stewart said. “We’re expecting at
least 1,000 and it’s being marketed
as a family event which means there
could be about 3,000 people.”
Stewart said some of the planned
events for the campers are a base
ball tournament for teenagers and
the crowning of a teen queen.
He said the arena has committed to
a community event for two hours on
Sunday night. Stewart said he was
Continued on page 6